Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 is too rough to recommend right now

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition launches this week for Nintendo Switch 2 with all DLC content included. This release follows Koei Tecmo's announcement for Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember which is also coming to Switch 2. Ahead of the first game's launch on September 3, I had a chance to try out Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition on Switch 2. Note that these impressions are only based on the opening hours and performance might get worse later on like it did at launch on PC. I focused on the Switch 2 version both docked and handheld with some comparisons covering the PS4, PS5, and Steam Deck versions. 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty visuals and performance impressions - Switch 2, PS5, PS4, and Steam Deck versions

Before getting to Switch 2, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on its target platforms at launch was quite rough. Not only was it very bad on Steam Deck until multiple patches later, but the last generation PS4 and Xbox One versions suffered from poor frame pacing with a 30fps cap. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions were pretty good in the performance mode, but the quality mode which itself was 1440p internally according to Digital Foundry, delivered an uncapped experience. 

Before playing Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on Switch 2, I downloaded the PS4 and PS5 versions to see how they feel on PS5 Pro and after all updates. I also downloaded the Steam release on Steam Deck since it is now Steam Deck Verified. The Steam version has seen massive improvements since launch, and it is very close to a decent experience on Steam Deck right now. You have to use the lowest settings with FSR upscaling to hit a 30fps target, and it holds up mostly well. The in-game frame limiter is not great at 30fps though. If you also set the PC version to target 60fps and your PC cannot keep up, the game speed slows down. 

As for the PlayStation versions, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty's PS5 version in its quality mode on PS5 Pro delivers a 60fps experience. Even the performance mode does, but there's no need to use it on PS5 Pro. Cut-scenes have a 30fps cap with bad frame pacing though. Wo Long's 30fps cap is not great on any platform right now. The PS4 version even played on PS5 Pro is capped at 30fps with the same frame pacing issues. As for base PS5, performance mode is excellent but quality mode with its uncapped experience is only recommended if you have a VRR display. 

Note: For the docked comparisons above, I used 4K capture from the PS5 version on PS5 Pro (resolution isn't dynamic so it would look the same on base PS5 also) in its quality mode, the PS4 version on PS5 Pro, the Switch 2 version docked in both resolution and fps modes. I cropped the same screenshot to show differences.

Moving over to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition on Switch 2, it has two visual modes docked and a single mode handheld. The performance mode docked uncaps the frame rate with the other mode targeting 30fps with bad frame pacing. Even handheld, it doesn't feel great to play right now and visuals are quite soft. Koei Tecmo says it has a maximum resolution of 1080p handheld and 1440p docked in the quality mode but the reality is the internal resolution is a lot lower. It looks blurry not only on my 1440p display, but also handheld on the Switch 2 screen itself. It even looks softer than the Steam version on Steam Deck using low settings and FSR upscaling.

One more thing I noticed is shadows in Wo Long on Switch 2 appear to be below the PC's lowest settings even docked. I'm not sure if this is something that will be fixed later, but there are many areas where even the lowest settings on Steam Deck have shadows, but the game on Switch 2 has no shadows even docked in the resolution mode. 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty load times tested across PS5 Pro, PS4 Pro, Steam Deck, and Switch 2

To test load times, I installed Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on the Switch 2 internal storage and microSD Express card, the PS4 version on PS5 Pro internal storage, the PS5 version on PS5 Pro internal storage, and the Steam version on Steam Deck OLED internal storage. I measured the time taken from the dashboard to the title screen and also the time taken to load an early game save. The results below are in seconds:

As you can see, the PS5 version on PS5 Pro is the fastest by a good margin. The Switch 2 version benefits from the internal storage. The Switch 2 internal storage and Steam Deck are comparable overall with the PS4 version played on PS5 internal storage faster than both initially. 

In its current state, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition on Switch 2 is Koei Tecmo's worst port to the platform outside of the original Yumia Switch 2 upgrade. This is well below my expectations even after knowing how it runs on last generation consoles and how it was at launch on Steam Deck. Right now, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is still my favorite Switch 2 port of the year across all publishers and definitely Koei Tecmo's best. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition is sadly on the opposite end of the spectrum. Hopefully Wo Long 2 is better on Switch 2 with it being announced for the platform from the start and not ported over later. I will revisit this port if it gets any major patches, but right now this is one to skip.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Complete Edition launches on September 3 for Nintendo Switch 2. It is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC (Steam, Xbox on PC).